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Genetic variation in gene expression among individuals is an important contributor to differences in organismal phenotypes. This Review describes key concepts of such variation and provides an update on recent research on the effects of regulatory variants on the transcriptome, proteome and complex traits, including human disease risk.
The evolution of genes is influenced by regional variation in mutation rates (RViMR). Chromatin organization affects RViMR, although the correlation between chromatin state and mutation types and rates is complex. This Review describes recent research on RViMR and chromatin organization, and the emerging findings from investigations of both germline and somatic mutations.
Host–pathogen interactions influence genetic diversity, and comparative genomic analyses are beginning to dissect genetic determinants involved in this process. This Review describes examples of such host–pathogen interactions and outline evolutionary approaches that are useful for identifying genomic regions associated with susceptibility to infection in mammals.
The rising human population and climate instability are putting unprecedented pressure on global agricultural practices. This Review describes the diverse mechanisms by which plants tolerate various stresses, such as flooding, drought, toxins, salinity and temperature extremes. The authors focus on how the genetic loci that underlie these survival and tolerance traits can be introgressed into current crops to improve yield stability.
